Amusement ride



Jan. 26, 1960 D. E. BRADLEY, JR

AMUSEMENT RIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. DAWD E. BRADLEY, JR.

BY flaw-r m M l/larngy Filed July 2, 1956 on Q Jan. 26, 1960 Filed July 2, 1956 D. E. BRADLEY, JR AMUSEMENT RIDE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q wuw m 14 f/orne te States Patent AMUSEMENT RIDE David E. Bradley, Jr., Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July 2, 1956, Serial No. 595,228

4 Claims. (Cl. 272-36) The present invention relates generally to an amusement device, and is more particularly concerned with an amusement ride in which the passengers are carried in a carriage or gondola shaped to simulate an aircraft, such as, for example, a helicopter.

It is one object of the invention to provide in a device of the above character, an individual support for each gondola, which is arranged to be actuated by its own power means, under the control of the passenger in the gondola, so as to cause the gondola to remain at a constant elevation or move to an elevated or lowered position as desired.

It is a further object to provide in addition to the individually operable controls for each gondola, an overriding control which will act automatically under certain conditions to return all the gondolas to a lower position irrespective of the operating position of the individual controls.

Further objects of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification, wherein detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing the invention without placing limitations thereon.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are for illustrative purposes only: i

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of apparatus embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the same; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are views diagrammatically illustrating the control means for the respective operating positions thereof.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the apparatus is disclosed as embodying an upstanding framework as generally indicated at and which is composed of a lower fixedly mounted base structure 11, and a surmounting rotatably mounted upper portion 12.

The base portion is made up of a plurality of ground rails 13 which are adapted to extend over the ground surface and form a stable support for a central upstanding pedestal 14, and which may be further braced by angle bracing members 15.

a The rotatable upper portion of the framework is fabrisupport for the ring 17, it is to be understood that a cated to include a central tubular sleeve 16 which is rotatthe ring and are inclined to bring their upper ends into engagement with the upper end of the central tubular sleeve 16 where they are welded or otherwise suitably secured. The rotatable upper portion as thus far described forms in efiect a rotatable hub of more or less skeletal construction with the ring member 17 forming plurality of castors 21 may be utilized, in which case they will be symmetrically spaced to support the ring 17 at circumferentially spaced intervals. The upper portion is arranged to be rotated by means of a suitable motor 23 which will be connected with a suitable source of electric supply and appropriate control apparatus (not shown). This motor is connected through a suitable transmission to the upper portion 12 so as to impart rotation thereto at the desired speed or speeds.

A pluralityof radially extending boom structures 24 are secured around the upper portion 12 and pivotally connected thereto for vertical swinging movements. As shown, the booms are of generally A-type construction, being formed by a pair of side rails 25 and 26 which are radially converged from the rotatable upper portion and secured together at their outermost ends by any suitable conventional means. The innermost ends of the rails 25 and 26 are in spaced apart relation and are secured to a spacer member 27 as by welding or other suitable means. The innermost ends of the rails 25 and 26 project beyond the spacer member 27 and are respectively fitted with coupling members 2828 by which the rails are pivotally connected to lugs 29 by a pivot 30 in each case to permit vertical swinging movements of the boom as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Each boom carries at its outermost end a passenger carrying gondola, as generally indicated at 31, and which is shaped to simulate a helicopter. The gondola 31 is provided with a supporting structure which includes a strut member 32 which projects from one side of the helicopter and is pivotally connected at its outermost end by suitable pivot means 33 to the outermost end of the boom. As thus connected, the gondola is pivotally movable about a horizontal axis formed by the pivot means 33. To control the position or attitude of the gondola and retain it in the same attitude in the raised and lowered positions of the boom, means are provided for automatically shifting the support 32 about the pivot means 33. during changes of position of the boom. This is accomplished by providing an upwardly projecting arm 34 which is rigidly secured at its lowermost end to the strut 32, and is pivotally connected at its upper end to one end of an elongate rod member 35, this rod member having its other end pivotally connected at 36 to one of the bracing members 20 of the rotatable upper portion 12 of the central frame. A parallelogram is thus provided which will cause the aircraft to maintain a constant upright nontilted attitude as the boom 24 is raised and lowered.

Each boom is provided with its own power means for effecting raising and lowering movements thereofthis purpose, a hydraulic cylinder 37 is mounted with one end pivoted at 38 to the uppermost end of the sleeve 16, or to the upper end of one of the brace members 20. This cylinder has a power delivery member 39 associated with a piston in the cylinder. The power delivery member is connected to one end of a rod 40, this rod having its other end pivotally connected at 41 to the boom at a point adjacent its outermost end. The cylinder 37 is of the double acting type so that when fluid is supplied to one end of the cylinder, the power delivery member will be retracted and will act to raise the boom, while supply of fluid to the opposite end of the cylinder 37 will extend the power delivery member 39 and operate to lower the boom. It will thus be apparent that by.

For

The hydraulic cylinders 37 are individually controlled in each case by a suitable valve 42, in this instance a four-way valve. The valve is arranged to be remotely actuated from the gondola at the outermost end of the associated boom 24. .For this purpose, there is ,provided an elongate control stick or handle 43 which is pivotally mounted as at 44 at one side of the gondola for horizontal swinging movement. As thus provided, the handle extends across the front of the gondola and also forms a safety barrier which extends in front of the passenger. The pivoted end of the handle 43 has a right angled arm 45 which is connected to one .end of an actuating rod 46 which is connected at its other end with the actuating mechanism of the .valve 42; As thus connected, the handle 43 may be selectively moved to three positions to actuate the valve to operating positions corresponding with up, neutral and down positions of the boom. Individual control of the gondola is thus permitted by the gondola passenger. The control of the respective gondolas is independent and one passenger may move his gondola to a raised position while another passenger may control his gondola to a lowered position of the boom while others may desire to simply ride in the same plane of elevation.

As a safety feature, and in order that all gondolas will be returned to a lowered position of the boom, when rotational movement of the ride is terminated, amoverriding control is provided which will operate irrespective of the position of a valve 42 as determined by the gondola passenger. One problem with amusement rides of this character resides in the desire of the passenger, -.par

ticularly in the case of children, to .stop the gondola in the raised position so that they will not have to disembark and will :be forced to be carried for the next ride. "-With the overriding control, all the gondolas will be lowered at the end of the ride and the individual passengerswill be unable to set the control so that they will not have to disembark. The overriding control as will shortly be explained in detail, also serves as a safety feature,-since all the gondola booms will be lowered in'the event ,of electric power failure.

Referring now to Figs-3, 4 and 5, the details of the control will be described.

Each valve42, in this case of the four-way type, comprises a housing 47 which has a valve spool 48 reciprocably mounted therein and cooperatively associated with cored passageways which are cooperatively associated in conventional manner to control the actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 37. The valve is connected through conduits 49 and 50 with the opposite ends of the cylinder 37, and through conduits 51 and 52 'respec tively with a pressure manifold 53 and an exhaust manifold 54. All the valves for the power cylinders are connected to the pressure manifold and exhaust manifold which thus serves to provide and circulate a hydraulic fluid from a pressure source. The hydraulic fluid is contained in a reservoir 55 which is connected to the exhaust manifold in such a way that it may supply fluid to the manifold under certain conditions of operation and receive fluid from the manifold under other conditions. Fluid is pumped from the reservoir by means of a suitable pump 56 which has its discharge side connected through a check valve 57 with the pressure.manifold, this check valve'preventing back flow from the=pressure manifold to the pump. Thefluid pump is of conventional construction and is driven by suitable electric motor (not shown).

In addition, a control valve 59 is associated'with a bypass 58. This control valve comprises a housing containing a valve cavity 60-Within which thereismounted a valve disc 61. The cavity on one side of thewalve disc communicates through port passages 62 and- 63with the pressure manifold and the exhaust manifold respectively, while the cavity on the otherside ofthe -valve communicates-with the-pressure manifold aheadof the hec valve wh n p s ure exi t w t when P mp is in operation. The valve disc is overbalanced in a closing direction. As thus arranged, when pressure exists in the pressure manifold, the valve disc will be moved so as to close off the port passages '62 and 63 and thus prevent flow through the manifold bypass 58, whereas decrease of pressure in the pressure manifold results in an opening of the port passages 62 and 63 and the establishment of flow through the manifold bypass.

A similar valve 59 is associated with each of the valves 42. This disc valve differs only in that it is provided on one side with three port passages 64, and 66, respectively, instead of two port passages, and is connected on the other side to the pressure manifold after the check valve. The port passage 64 connects the cavity on one side of the disc 61 with the conduit connection 49 within the control valve housing, while port passages 65 connects the cavity with the conduit-50 and port passage 66 connects the cavity with the exhaust manifold connection.

During normal operation, when pressure is suppliedto the pressure manifold by the, pump'operation, the valves 59 and'59' will be actuated by the fluid pressure so as to close the bypass 58 and the bypasses through the port passages 64, 65 and .66, so that the valves .42 will operate in conventional manner to control the hydraulic cylinder 37 for each boom in the manner determined by the passenger in the associated gondola. However, in the event of power failure and stoppage of the hydraulic fluid pump 56,.the valves 59 and 59' operate to provide an overriding bleed-down control which will return the booms to down position irrespective of the position. of theifour-way valve spool as determined by the person in the car or gondola. From an inspection oflF-ig. 3, it will be appreciated that the weight of the boom,,.the gondola and passengers will .act on the member :39 so as-to move it to the left as shown in Figs. 3,..4 or 5. This will set up a back pressure which acts ,throughwthe system, as will hereinafter be explained, when the fluid pump 56 is shut down. Also, it will be apparentthat there is a volume differential existing between the opposite sides ofthe piston in the cylinder 37 due to the piston rod being secured on one side of the piston only. Ittherefore becomes necessary in the transfer of- ;fluid from one side of the piston to the othento make up for this volume differential.

For purposes of explanation, the operation of the .overriding control will now be considered for 'thelithree .different positions of the valve spool, namely foruthe up, neutral and the down settings of the valve.

In the up position as shown in Fig. 3, fluid willflow from the left side of the piston through conduit :49, .directly through the valve body and conduit 51 to the pressure manifold 53, thence through the bypass .58 to the exhaust manifold, from the exhaust manifold through conduit 52, directly through the valve body :to conduit 50 and thence to the right side of the piston in the hydraulic cylinder 37. The volume differential during this transfer will be made up by the supply of the additionally required fluid from the reservoir through the exhaust manifold. There will be very little transfer of hydraulic fluid through the port passages 64, 65 and 66 under'this condition of operation. This transfer of fluid will permit the boom connected to the hydraulic cylinder 37 to gradually settle to its lowermost position.

In the neutral position as shown-in Fig. 4, fluid transfer will take place from the left side of'the-piston, through conduit 49, theport passage 64, port passage 65, and. thence through conduit 50 to the right side of the piston; The volume differential willin this case .be suppliedifrorn-the exhaust manifold, through conduit '52, and through port--passage -66 to supplement the fluidxflow ahrough port passage 65 and conduit 50 to the right side Of the piston.

ln the down position as-shown in Fig, 5, the T 783 fer of fluid from the left side of the piston will take place through conduit 49, the conduit 52, bypass 58, conduit 53, conduit 51 through the valve 42 and thence through conduit 50 to the right side of the piston. Fluid from conduit 49 will also flow through a parallel path through port passage 66, port passage 65, and thence to conduit 50 and the right side of the piston. The difference in volume will be supplied from the exhaust manifold.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence, I do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination, comprising: a boom pivoted at one end for vertical swinging movements; means for actuating said boom including a hydraulic cylinder and piston; a fluid reservoir; an exhaust manifold connected to discharge fluid into said reservoir and receive fluid therefrom; a fluid supply manifold; a fluid pump having an inlet connection with said reservoir and an outlet connection with said supply manifold; a check valve in the outlet connection of said pump; conduits respectively connected with the opposite ends of said hydraulic cylinder; main valve means operable to reversibly connect said exhaust and supply manifolds with said conduits to raise and lower said boom, said valve means further having a neutral position; a bypass connection between said manifolds; a bypass connection between said conduits and said exhaust manifold; valves in said bypass connections operable by fluid pressure in said supply manifold to close said bypasses, and upon reduction of fluid pressure in said manifold to open said bypasses, whereby interchange of fluid is permitted from one side of the piston to the other and volume difference of fluid supplied from said reservoir to enable lowering of the boom from a raised position under the action of gravity, irrespective of the position of said main valve means.

2. The combination, comprising: an upstanding framework mounted for rotation about a vertical axis; a plurality of booms, each boom being pivoted at one end on said framework for vertical swinging movements; means for independently actuating said booms including a hydraulic cylinder and piston for each boom; a fluid reservoir; an exhaust manifold connected to discharge fluid into said reservoir and receive fluid therefrom; a fluid supply manifold; a fluid pump having an inlet connection with said reservoir and an outlet connection with said supply manifold; a check valve in the outlet connection of said pump; conduits respectively connected with the opposite ends of each of said hydraulic cylinder; main valves independently operable to reversibly connect said exhaust and supply manifolds with said conduits of the respective hydraulic cylinders to raise and lower the associated boom, said valves further having a *neutral" position; a bypass connected between said manifolds; a bypass connection between said conduits and said exhaust manifold; valves in said bypass connections operable by fluid pressure in said supply manifold to close said bypasses, and upon reduction of fluid pressure in said manifold to open said bypasses, whereby interchange of fluid is permitted from one side of the piston in each oylinder to the other, and volume difference of fluid supplied from said reservoir to enable lowering of all the booms from a raised position under the action of gravity, irrespective of the position of each main valve.

3. In an amusement ride, the combination comprising a framework, a boom carried by said framework and pivoted thereto at its inner end for vertical swinging movement, means comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston slideable therein operatively connected between said boom and framework to effect said vertical swinging movement, said boom being biased downwardly by gravity against the lifting force of said hydraulic cylinder and piston means, means connectable to a source of pressure fluid and including a manually operable valve for selectively controlling the flow of pressure fluid to and from oppositesides of the piston in said hydraulic cylinder to raise and lower said boom, fluid conducting means to bypass said valve to provide for relative adjustment of the fluid pressure on opposite sides of the piston in said hydraulic cylinder to permit said boom to move downwardly by gravity when said bypass means is open regardless of the position of said valve, and means operable independently of said valve to control the opening and closing of said bypass means, said independently operable means including a valve and means to effect automatic opening of said last named valve in response to removal of pressure from the fluid pressure source.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3 including a passenger carrying gondola mounted on the outer end of said boom and means positioned in said gondola for operation by the passenger to control said manually op erable valve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,923 Jacobsen Apr. 9, 1935 2,282,763 Kennedy May 12, 1942 2,357,481 Mallon Sept. 5, 1944 2,468,893 Orance May 3, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,083,412 France June 30, 1954 63,039 France Mar. 2, 1955 (Addition to No. 1,042,249) 305,148 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1955 (Corresponding British Patent 721,707, I an. 12, 1955) 

